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Day: September 15, 2014

Apparently, the last time you were on a plane, someone on that plane was possibly higher than everyone else on board; unfortunately we’re talking about the pilot.

A new study by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found that the use of potentially impairing medications was on the rise among commercial pilots. Of the 6,677 pilots who died between 1990 and 2012 several were found to have taken over-the-counter medications. None were found to have taken illicit drugs recently.

The conclusion of the study found that pilots were either unaware of the dangers of flying under the influence of antihistamines and other cold, flu and allergy medications or they felt that the impairment wasn’t severe enough to put anyone in danger.

The NTSB believes that education is the answer. They believe that properly informing pilots about the potential dangers of over-the-counter medications would cut down on pilots taking them prior to flying.